Monday, September 27, 2010

I've been back in the states for some time now, and I thought it would be nice to reflect on my experience as a whole (now that I'm not overly jetlagged or sick or consumed with family and school).

As I was riding on one of the buses from one part of campus to another, it reminded me of the crazed mini-bus drivers in Üsküdar. Of course my bus driver the other night came to a full stop before opening the doors and waited until the coast was clear to shut them and move to the next stop, but that's besides the point. I noticed that I wasn't offered a seat because I was a woman or that people didn't shuffle around so others could fit more easily. BUT the most satisfying difference of my bus ride here was that I couldn't smell the person next to me. Traffic is another difference because we follow laws here. I've found myself many a time looking both ways about 6 times each before actually setting foot on the pavement to cross the street. Food of course is another thing to note. The produce here just isn't fresh. When I eat an apple, I don't want to eat wax.

When I first got home, I couldn't wait to get my blackberry back or drive a car. I never drove in Turkey mostly because I can't drive a stickshift nor was I willing to try in the 5th largest city in the world. Being able to use my hair dryer again was also a big plus - the converter didn't work in Turkey. Life has been made so simple for us, and it's made me more conscious about how I spend my time and money.

It seems that it was just yesterday that I arrived in Istanbul. Looking back, I was so out of it I don't even know how I functioned. Although the days of data entries seemed like they would never end, I've erased the majority of the miserable parts of work. Now it just seems that I went to work, learned Turkish, traveled, and went home at night to the dorms only to get in trouble with the dorm director.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Sorry for the delay in posting. My family has been keeping me busy and trying to get me on U.S. time!

After the flights, I breezed through customs. I basically ran past all of the Italians and their children so I wouldn't be stuck behind anything crazy. My suitcase came up rather quickly, and off through the final customs gate I went! Then I was officially back in the U.S.A. I went through the doors where the pick-up is. My 2 sisters, my mom, and one of my cousins were waiting for me (my dad was in the car). There were lots of hugs and tears; everyone missed me, and I had missed them.

We packed up the car, and we headed to my aunt's house which is probably a half an hour from the airport. There we had a "Welcome Home Emily!" party. It was great that I could see my family again and enjoy some classic American foods.

It had been a long day, so after eating we hit the road again. From my aunt's to my house is about 1.5 hrs. It wasn't that long of a car ride compared to traveling in Istanbul! And I blabbed away about my Turkish adventures.

Finally, we arrived in my hometown, pulled up the drive-way, and unloaded the car. I was home. It was weird coming back to my small town after being away for almost 3 months. Everything seemed the same; it takes awhile for things to change here.

I unloaded my souvenirs for my family. They loved them! I brought back all sorts of treasures: scraves, earrings, rocks (sshhh!), and foods. The best gift to them was having me back safely.

Ever since I have been home I have noticed a few things. First my mind is still half-working in Turkish. This is pretty cool for me because it's amazing how much and how quickly I was able to learn the language. Second the climate is COMPLETELY different. I got used to the Istanbul humidity. It's humid here but not nearly as much. As a result, my nose keeps bleeding. I've had maybe 5 bloody noses since I've been home. My mom has threatened to take me to the doctor to get it cauterized, so I'm praying that it stops on it's own!

It's been good to be back home. Seeing some of my friends has been fun, but I'm starting to miss my Turkish friends. It's weird now not seeing those people.

Other than that, I'd say I'm adjusting fairly well. I've been going to sleep at normal times and waking up at normal times. I've been sleeping pretty solidly at night. It hasn't been too bad coming back.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Well, the traveling is over; I made it back home. It was an eventful day for good and bad reasons. The day started with my hired car (from the university) being about an hour late. The car was supposed to be at the dorms at 3:30, and at 4:15 the security guard called the company asking inquiring about the car. They sent a car, and about 20 min later I was on my way to Ataturk Airport.

When I got to the airport, I had a little over an hour to check my bags and go through security. Normally the time you should allow for these sorts of things is 2 hours I think. I tried to find the shortest/fastest lines to go through. All was going well until I encountered the baggage check-in. Once again my bag was overweight. I didn't add very many things to my suitcase, and I took out and threw away a LOT. Apparently it wasn't enough. I was forced to pay the fee (yikes!). In order to pay the fee, though, I had to go to another counter and then bring back the receipt to the baggage check-in. At this point I was in tears; all I wanted to do was come home. The baggage check-in got sorted out, so it was off to Passport Control for me! This was one of the longest waits. Some people have visa troubles so it can take a long time. Choosing a short line doesn't make a difference because there could be someone with passport troubles in front of you, taking twice the amount of time as it should. After that I dashed through the airport to my gate, making it there to catch the end of the boarding passenger line. I boarded, and shortly after we took off. I slept the entire flight.

Rome was a sour experience for me. We arrived on time to Rome Fiumicino Airport. After exiting the plane I went through a security screening. They had to pull my bags aside because my alarm clock had a peculiar picture on the screen. Then I went to my gate. Only after I sit down do I hear my name being called on the loudpeaker. I needed to go through yet another security check.

The security check went well. I was able to sit and people watch afterwords. People do the strangest things in public. I saw a man using is arm as a golf club to practice his form.

After all of that, I boarded my second and final plane. I fell asleep while I was waiting for take-off. I woke up to find that the plane was running behind schedule and that we were just then going to take-off. The ride went well, and I occupied my time by sleeping and watching movies.

I am very tired as I'm writing this. I have to go to sleep..but I will be sure to finish tomorrow!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Burak spotted this in one of the murals in the subway. It's our office building, Park Plaza!

Loving the colors!

Ruins of old Istanbul

The rails of the old Galata Bridge. This bridge is no longer used for cars, only walking. There is a new one, but it is in a different location.

Pictures from my personal day:

Sirkeci Station - Istanbul's European train station

The new Galata Bridge

Haydarpaşa

Nifty sign

Today was my last day in Turkey. I got out of bed, took a shower, and headed to Europe. It doesn't matter what time of day you go anywhere, there's always bad traffic. That's one thing I'm not going to miss! I said my good-byes to all of my co-workers and caught the Metrobus back to Asia. The stop I was at was very crowded. I had no idea what bus to take, but when I found it I got on in the wrong direction. I got off and back on going in the right direction. Upon my return to Asia, I went to the highest point in Istanbul, Çamlıca Hill. It was the end of a beautiful sunset when I got there - a perfect end to my stay.

My company!

Me, Nilay, Songül, Vedat, and Hasan (a group of my coworkers)

Same group, except Hasan is now taking the picture and Erdem is in Hasan's old place

Erdem and I

Taken from my Metrobus ride

View from the hill

Time has flown by. It's been an amazing experience. I have learned so much about the Turkish culture, life, and most importantly myself. Turkey has been great to me and for me, but it's time to see my family again. Boy, have I missed them!

Things I will miss:

-friends I have made

-döner

-the sea

-riding the boats on the sea

-bargaining

-fresh and homegrown foods with minimal additives - there's no wax on the apples!

Monday, August 16, 2010

Do you ever feel the need to go out by yourself and self-reflect? Those days where you don't want to deal with anyone or go to work. My mom always calls those kinds of days "personal days". Today was my personal day. I took the day to go shopping, something I haven't done in awhile.

First, I went to the Grand Bazaar. I picked up a few things for my family after out-charming the salesmen. Hooray! I can bargain now! Well, at least better than before. Then I went to Kadikoy and did some personal shopping. I found a very cute, inexpensive dress as well as some books. I bought Ye, Dua Et, Sev (Eat, Pray, Love) by Elizabeth Gilbert and Harry Potter ve Felsefe Taşı (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone) by J.K. Rowling. I am hoping to improve my Turkish further by reading.

Tomorrow I am heading back to the office to say my good-byes. It will be very sad, and I anticipate crying. A lot. I am hoping to return - inşallah. This is a common phrase meaning "God-willing" (or"we can only pray/hope so"). I simply cannot believe that it is over; I am going back home to the real world.

My suitcase is just about packed, but there are a few straggling items. There are a few more souvenirs to buy and a few things to find. I am on the hunt for these items: a necklace, my sunglasses, and a sock. I'm fairly certain that all are lost for good, which really sucks. Hopefully they will show up in the next 24 hrs!

My computer is still not registering the new pictures I have uploaded. THIS IS MAKING ME EXTREMELY ANGRY.

Yesterday the new intern at G.F., Burak, and I went exploring around İstanbul. First we took a walk down İstiklal Street in Taksim, and from there we went to Eyüp.

Eyüp is on the Golden Horn. It is one of the older districts of İstanbul; it still withholds traditional values. It is a very religious area, and there were almost no women without headscarves.

We walked around the district. It was a very charismatic community; the buildings were colorful and had interesting architecture. We waited for İftar - Burak is observing the fast - and then we had dinner at one of the restaurants there. The restaurant put food on the table 5 min before the iftar began because as soon as the evening prayers start people engorge themselves. I know that fasting must be hard. It is HOT here, and going all day without water would kill me. There was a couple at a table near us that were taking pictures holding a water bottle making sad faces.

I have learned a lot about the Islamic faith and community from my stay in Turkey:

1. It is like Christianity in the sense that there are religious crazies, there are people that occasionally practice, and there are people that could care less. From my experience, there isn't an abundance of any of the categories. For example, in my office there are only 4 people fasting (that's out of 25). There are at least 5 other people that don't even practice the faith. The rest I either don't know, or they sometimes practice.

2. Just because you are a Muslim doesn't mean you wear a headscarf. It is a choice. One of my American friends also explained to me that the way the scarf is tied has political significance. I'm not exactly about the truth of this, but it is possible.

3. Praying 5 times a day is a lot for most people. This is no different for Turks. People stronger with their faith might take a moment to be silent and pray during the prayers, but most don't go to Mosque at that time. Nor does life "stop"; people who aren't praying go on with what they're doing.

4. Ramadan (this has it's own subcategories!):
a). This is the time that Muslims reflect on how poor people live. Poor people cannot afford the luxuries of eating all of the time, drinking, smoking, chewing gum, etc. Thus, Muslims also give up these things between sunrise and sunset.
b). It lasts about 30 days (this year is 29).
c). This is the last month of the Islamic calendar, and there is a big festival at the end that lasts 3 days (?) to signify the new year.
d). Every year Ramadan shifts 10 days closer to January. Next year Ramadan will start in July.
e). The fasting period is the hardest in the summer because the days are longer. This year the days are about 16 hrs.
f). The nights are the best part! There are fairs/festivals every night of Ramadan. There's food, live music, and other sorts of entertainment.
g). The morning meal before the fast is sahur. The evening meal after the fast is iftar.
i). Just because you are a Muslim doesn't mean you fast. It is, of course, a choice, but it is strongly encouraged.
k). Pregnant women don't fast. There are pregnant women in my office that would normally fast, but it is not healthy (but back in the day it didn't matter). Young children don't fast either. Girls start when they are 12ish, boys when they are 14ish

*This is information given to me from people around my office. This could very well be different for other Muslims. I am not saying that all of this is true for EVERY Muslim. It is simply what I have gathered!

I have pictures but my blog isn't registering that there are pictures. ARRGGG!!!! I will try to post them later.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Today was the last day of work; I made it! I survived an entire summer working at a company in a foreign country. As boring as it was, it was an amazing experience. Learning how to work in that environment efficiently wasn't easy, but I pushed through and made it work.
What I Learned from G.F.:
- Turkish
- How factoring works
- fortune telling
- Vulgar words/slang
- how to make Turkish tea and coffee
- Turkish customs
- Turkish mannerisms

After work I went with the coworker who first showed me around the office, Aybuke. She is one of the nicest ladies I have ever met. Because it is Ramadan, she and her husband are fasting. They invited me to eat the evening meal, iftar, with them and then head to the Ramadan festivities in their neighborhood (at night during Ramadan there are a lot of carnival and fair type activities to go to). It was great to be a part of their family for the night - one day they will make great parents! Aybuke made a home-cooked meal of soup, some kind of chicken and pea mixture, pasta, and dolma along with bread and baklava for something sweet. Simply delicious. The fair was also a lot fun, and afterwards we drank Turkish coffee. They then drove me home. It was a great way to end my internship with G.F.

Entrance sign

We ate macun, a traditional candy. It is taffy like but softer. First you start with a plain stick.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

This morning Joy and I went to Ozyegin University with a de-briefing meeting with the international office. We talked about what would make the internships better. Joy and I gladly gave our input on what went well - the companies were great! - and what went wrong - the dorms are in the hinterlands. We also arranged our departure times for next week. I can't believe we will be going home; it feels like we just got here.

I have made really great friends here in Turkey. Joy, my roommate, has been my best friend here. I couldn't have asked for a better roommate. It's great to have someone to go on adventures with. For example, today Joy said that we were going to cross the extremely busy street instead of taking the pedestrian bridge. This shortcut would cut off about 10 min of walking up and down stairs and across bridges. I agreed that this would be a good idea. Well, we crossed all of the lanes to get to the other side and realize that we have to step over a fence. Of course I was wearing a skirt. Joy said, "it's ok, no one's looking!" as she flings her bag in front of my crotch to make sure that no one would see anything. The only people that saw anything were the Muslim women behind me also crossing (but wearing pants...).

It's also great to have someone to gossip with. Our bus driver, as cute and sweet as he is, refuses to turn on the air conditioning. Now, it's 40 C outside (that's 104 for you Farenheiters!). I told Joy today to ask him to turn it on. She responded in her innocent Asian accent, "I wouldn't ask. I would just say 'Bitch turn it on!'". I laughed the rest of the ride home.

Good-byes have never been easy for me. Tomorrow is the last day of work (I think I might have mentioned in an earlier post that yesterday was my last day. I apologize for the confusion, but because I am not traveling that much this weekend my boss and I decided that Friday would be my last day). It will be bittersweet. No, actually it will only be sad. Girisim Faktoring has become my family, and I will miss them greatly when I return to the states. Most likely, I will cry. I'm just praying that I remember to wear waterproof mascara.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Thank goodness that:
1. it is my last week of work
2. I'm going home in 8 days
3. there is a new intern to socialize with
4. I live no where near the Jersey Shore

Today was just another day at Girişim Faktoring. I spent the day thinking about what I need to do before I leave and getting to know the new intern. Any previous boring days would have been less boring if he had started to work there sooner, but it's been fun nonetheless. I've also been increasing my slang vocabulary, which is entertainment for everyone. I've learned a lot of new words in the past few days that I should have learned when I first came!

I have also been spending my time trying to catch up on American pop culture. Yes, I have submitted to the Jersey Shore phenomenon. That show has caused a deduction from my IQ points, but it's one of those addicting reality shows which is why I screamed when my computer wouldn't play the last 5 min of an episode. In the end, it played again, and I was able to enjoy the drama-filled fist-pumping guido show once again.

Ramadan starts tonight. That means that many (practicing) Muslims will be fasting from sunup till sunset - no food or water! I am not participating; it is too hot not to drink water. Otherwise I would be more willing to try it for a day. This is also the reason (I'm hoping) that Joy and I heard a gunshot. We'll learn tomorrow I guess!

Monday, August 9, 2010

It's always the laziest of days that I forget to post. I am deeply for not posting about my boredom yesterday. I literally spent the day in my room, playing on the computer. I didn't have much cash, and I didn't want to go all the way to Kadikoy to get cash.

Today was no different. Work was EXTREMELY boring. I want work to keep me busy, but there is none. Everyone is busy with their own stuff, especially because a few people from the office are on vacation (they have to pick up the extra work). Thus I spent today looking up computer games that I used to play growing up. It turned out to be a lot of fun...for about 5 min. At least another intern started today. He wasn't very talkative, but at least there was someone else to join in the misery.

My boss said my last day could be Wednesday. SCORE! He said then I could have time to do a little more traveling if I wanted. I don't really have the resources to do more traveling, but I really want to go to a beach. I would love to see the Black Sea, but the Black Sea beaches close to Istanbul are somewhat dangerous. The waves and undertoes are pretty strong (as told to me by my boss). Apparently there are lifeguards; caution should still be taken though. Well, luckily enough to get tan you don't need to get in the water. There are buses that runs to those beaches every day, so we'll see. My friend invited me to go to Alanya, but it is far and rather expensive to go there. It's also obnoxiously hot, as in you don't go outside between the hours of 11am-4pm. You'll melt like the Wicked Witch of the West. I haven't made any decisions yet, but I'm working on it and will let you know when I do!

View from Utku's apartment in Ankara

Mahmut Paşa Street

Fountain in Üsküdar

Yarn in Kürkçü Han

Things I'm Looking Forward to in the States:

-Seeing my family
-Washing Machines that will actually wash my clothes
-Sausage with Pork
-Driving
-Hanging out with my friends
-Free water

Saturday, August 7, 2010

You never know what to expect when you first walk inside of the Grand Bazaar. Sometimes the salesmen are nice, sometimes they're jerks. You can find the perfect store and buy from them once only to return 2 weeks later to have the opposite luck. I have been there when it's packed, when it's "empty", and when there's enough people around to go unnoticed.

Today was one of those all-out-determination days: I was going to the bazaars, and I was going to get what I needed (presents for my family!). When I first got to the bazaars I started looking. You just have to quickly graze with your eyes at the merchandise - if the salesmen catch you, you're a goner! The salesmen will immediately bombard you with questions and convince you to just look. They do their jobs well, those salesmen. I wouldn't mind it as much if I could bargain. I am by far the worst bargainer in the world. I like definitive prices, and if it seems way too high for my liking I leave. If it's a somewhat reasonable price, then I can normally lower it from there. It helps if the salesmen thinks I'm pretty because then I can get him to fluctuate the price more. For example, today one of the salesmen went so far as to ask me on a date! As cute as he was, I didn't go. Not because I didn't want to, but I fell asleep from 6-9 pm. Thus I missed it (oh well). At least I got a good deal from him!

After I went to the Grand Bazaar I set out on a missin to find the Yarn Bazaar, Kürkçü Han. It took asking about 5 or 6 different people directions, but I found it eventually. It was a tucked away section of crafters shops. It was mostly fabrics with a couple of yarn stores and a few bead/sequin places as well. I went there searching for gifts for my mom, and boy! is she going to enjoy what I got. I love you, Mom, and it was worth roasting in the sun for 45 min desperately trying to find.

Friday, August 6, 2010

I woke up this morning realizing that my post was still in the editing box on the computer; I had forgotten to actually post the thing! Not that anything exciting happened yesterday...

Everyone at work was extremely busy. No one had time to talk or to give me work. I literally sat at my table the entire day surfing the web and reading my book (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo). It's a gooooood read so I didn't mind. That's all I did last night as well - play on my computer and read. I actually fell asleep reading. I'm excited to come home and go to the library and check out a bunch of books!

There are book shops here, but the books are in Turkish. Actually there is a man who comes into the office selling books. People don't shoo him away, they want to hear his prices. I found the process very peculiar because that doesn't happen in the U.S. That salesman would never even make it through the security checkpoint!

Thursday, August 5, 2010

From all of the trips I have taken thus far, and god-willing I will be able to continue my travels in my last 2 weeks here!, I have noted the differences in the climates. It took me until Wednesday morning after I returned from Ankara to realize how humid Istanbul really is. Living in Michigan has gotten me used to weird weather, especially humidity. It's just something I expect from the weather. Istanbul is on the strait between 2 seas - of course it's humid! Before I went to Ankara and Eskisehir, I had mostly visited places that were on the coasts. The only place I had visited prior to this trip not on the coast was Cappadocia, which I was so preoccupied by the sites and strong sun that the humidity levels weren't important to me. The central Anatolian weather didn't phase me. Sure it was as hot as I imagined hell to be, but I've been in hot weather before. I didn't notice the humidity when I got off the train - you're going to feel different walking into the Mediterranean climate after being in a compartment heavily air conditioned. When I was going to work, however, that's when it hit me. My hair didn't try for at least 2 hours. I took the metrobus, which was cramped full of people so I was sweating. By the time I got to work I probably should have taken another shower.

This morning I slept through my alarm. Thus I had to take the metrobus again today, but it was a smoother ride. There weren't as many people on this bus, and the minibuses I took weren't as crowded either. Work is ok; it's not very interesting. I was assigned to enter more checks into the database. There was some missing information, and I took it to Erdem, my coworker. He spent a good amount of time talking on the phone trying to find the information. Eventually he gave up and just wrote in some numbers (these were numbers we had come up with, not just random ones). I said, "ta-da!" He gave me the what-in-the-h-e-double-hockey-sticks-did-you-just-say look. I said, "You know, 'ta-da!'. It's an interjection.." I ended up checking all of the online translators that I could think of trying to find a Turkish equivalent. There isn't one. It never crossed my mind that words like that would be different. It was a learning experience for us both. He spent the rest of the afternoon saying, "ta-da!", correct context or not.

From looking back at my previous posts, I realized that I didn't explain some things that you might not have known. Anitkabir is Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's mausoleum. He founded the Republic of Turkey in 1923 and was the first president. He died in 1938 in Dolmabahce Palace (I've been there!). Around the mausoleum is a museum recounting his life, as well as the development and reform of Turkey. NOTE: the museum is totally worth going to because there is a lot of information regarding Turkey's history and it's AIR CONDITIONED.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

First and foremost I am happy to report that my laundry is safe and sound! If this were the U.S. my clothes would be long gone, and there would be nothing I could do about it.

My train arrived a half an hour late this morning, so I missed the service bus to work. This was actually kind of a relief to me because then I could relax and take my time getting ready. I was able to make it to work only a little bit late. It wasn't a big deal; I wasn't missing out on anything much. It was good to see my GF family. They missed me, and I missed them.